playze

‘Local & Transcultural’ comprises a collection of stories uncovered and inspired by playze’s architectural processes. Collectively, they demonstrate the ways in which the practice of architecture reveals more about a place’s cultural significance than completed projects alone. Drawings, models, videos, and other working materials present a behind-the-scenes glimpse into playze’s approach, and offer insights into the unique social contexts in which we work. They include the role and challenges of Chinese local bureaucracy in architecture competitions; how rigid German building codes put alternative approaches to communal living at risk; and how gentrification of Swiss cites is forcing manufacturing into the peripheries. These local learnings inform our international practice, enriching projects with a transcultural approach that runs through everything we do.

The duality of local and transcultural takes on a particularly special meaning in the challenging period we are currently experiencing. For playze’s founders, their generation grew up in a time when the world was interconnecting rapidly, and the doors of other countries felt wide open. The perception was true for Mengjia in China, as well as for Marc and Pascal in Europe. This seemingly irreversible logic is what encouraged us to go out into the world: Mengjia to Stuttgart, Marc to Zurich and Berlin, and Pascal to Shanghai. In between and along the way, our paths crossed. Our encounter eventually gave rise to the idea of playze, a network of transculturally connected but locally rooted architectural practices.

Fifteen years later, we are confronted with a very different reality. Opposing political ideologies are pitted against each other, war is raging on the European continent, and the climate crisis is challenging our way of life. And as if that weren't enough, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on travel. As a result, our Chinese colleagues cannot physically participate in this exhibition. Ostensibly, these ongoing emergencies undermine playze’s ideals and organisational principals. However, we realise that we are extremely well-positioned to meet the challenges. After all, we are used to communicating with digital means across borders. Our locally operating offices can function without any travel at all. And despite divisive forces, the exchange of know-how and mutual inspiration continues undiminished.